Defender of the Crown
Typed out by Martin Nielsen
GAME : DEFENDER OF THE CROWN
MAKER : PALCOM
RELEASED : 1991
GAME CODE : NES-U3-UKV
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* The "ULTRA" instead of "PALCOM" that apears in the manual is not an *
* error made by me.... Go blame Konami :) *
* *
* - Martin *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF ULTRA!
You're now the proud owner of ULTRA's authentic version of Defender of the
Crown for the Nintendo Entertainment System. We suggest that you read the
following instructions thoroughly before conquering England.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
THE ENGLISH COUNTRY SIDE
INTRODUCTION
HOW TO PLAY
THE 4 ENGLISH LORDS
THE TOURNAMENT
BUYING AN ARMY/THE CONQUEST
RAIDING
BATTLES AND CATAPULTS
DEFENDING YOUR CASTLE
ROBIN HOOD AND THE DAMSEL IN DISTRESS
ADVICE FROM THE ROUND TABLE
TAKING CARE OF YOUR GAME
ENGLAND 1149 A.D.
Ripe with civil vil war, the once peaceful English countryside is tormented
by trampling armies and thundering hooves, and its grassy knolls are stained
red by fallen knights and serfs. The game's map screen displays the whole
bloody terrrtory and defines the boundaries of feudal lands. It also shows
where castles and garrisons are located, and who lays claim to each
territory (blue shields represent Saxon turf, orange flags represent Norman
holdings. Your homeland is represented by a bold knight on a trusty white
steed). In the upper-left corner of the map screen, you'll see a table.
From there you will select your plan of action : Tournament, Conquest,
Go Raiding, Buy Army, Read Map, Pass.
WHEN HISTORY AND FANTASY WERE ONE
It's a time of legends. A time for heroes. A time of bitter strife, when
great men rise above their peers to perform great deeds. Your liege the king
is dead, the throne vacant. Britain enters a season of destruction, a bitter
winter that can end only when the last brave Saxon Knight lies dead or the
Norman castles lie in heaps ot rubble, emptied of their foul oppressors who
have enslaved your people. It's a time when foreign invaders shall learn the
truths administered by the shining blad Saxon swords. It's a time when
heroes are made and damsels saved.
HOW TO CROWN YOURSELF
Six great lords vie for the English throne; their castles dominate the
island nation. In the south there are the three Norman castles, to the
north, the Saxon fortresses.
Your goal is to crush the three Norman castles, thus claiming the missing
crown. To do so, you must accumulate wealth by conquering lands and raiding
castles. With this stash of cash, you must build armies tor further
conquests and defense of the territories you've already claimed. The other
Saxons are initially your allies, but remember: they want to be king of
England as well.
HOW TO PLAY
Strategy is as much a part of valor as strength and a sword. A great king
has plenty of brains to back his boasting, because he knows that words can
only lead soldiers into battle. While decisions lead them on to victory.
After the opening screen appears, take command and advance to the next
screen by pressing the A Butlon. In general, you may press the A button to
cnange screens throughout the game.
When the first picture of a knight appears, you may choose to play his role
by pressing the A Button. To cycle through the other 3 arternative knights,
press the Control Pad or Select Button. What's important to note about each
are his strengths or weaknesses in Leadership, Jousting and Swordplay.
(The easiest Knight to win with is Wilfred of Ivanhoe. The toughest
challenge is with Wolfric the Wild.)
Once you've knighted yourself, advance through Sherwood Forest, then on to
the status screen. This screen will keep you informed of how you're faring
throughout the game. It tells you the date, your gold and income supply,
your ratings status, the number of knights, soldiers and catapults you have
in your conquering army, and the number of soldiers you've left at home to
defend your castle. It also displays the fair maiden, if you're brave enough
to reseue her when called upon.
After learning a little bit about yourself, advance to the map scren and
begin your quest for the crown. From there, make strategic selections by
moving the sword up or down the Control Pad. Press the A Button to lock in
your decision. Next, follow the directions given to you on the screen. Use
the Control pad to maneuver the cursor, and lock in your commands by
pressing the A Button.
Every decision you make is considered a TURN. For each turn you take a
month passes inside the computer. During this time the computer takes its
turn, initiating battles that randomly rage across the land. You'll see
flags and shields appearing and changing. These are the computer's
conquests.
Remember, for every Saxon decision you make, the computer counters with
Norman ideas. Thus be advised to always stay one thought ahead.
GOOD KNIGHTS
You'll command the role of one of these Saxon lords. Note Their strengths
and make sure you have the skills to compensate for any of their
weaknesses. During the conquest you can increase your Ieadership rating by
sucessfully jousting fame. This is important to remember, since a strong
leadership rating offers an enormous advantage on The battefield. Of course,
also know that any time you flee from a confrontation, your leadership will
falter and your men will lose confidence.
Wilfred of Ivanhoe
Leadership : Average
Jousting : Good
Swordplay : Good
Wolfric the Wild
Leadership : Weak
Jousting : Strong
Swordplay : Weak
Cedric of Rotherwood
Leadership : Strong
Jousting : Average
Swordplay : Good
Geoffrey Longsword
Leadership : Good
Jousting : Weak
Swordplay : Strong
THE TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
You need 5 gold pieces to pay for holding a tournament. When other lords
hold tournaments, the code of chivalry requires you to attend (for free).
Complete for FAME to increase your leadership, and for LAND to win
territory. If you have no land other than your home castle to gamble, you'll
automatically duel for fame.
Event 1: The Joust
After choosing your opponent (Hint: you should have read the map to know who
the strong and weak opponerns are) press the A Button until you've advanced
to the overhead view of the horses galloping into position. You're Saxon
blue, the computer is Norman red.
Next the "Charge!" screen will appear. Using the Control Pad, guide the
lance at the bottom of the screen and try to position it in the center of
the oncoming opponent's shield. The stronger your jousting abilitty, the
larger his shield.
After the third pass, if you haven't dismounted him, you're automatically
knocked on your tail. Whether you dismount your opponent or he dismounts
you determines your strength going in to the tournaments second event.
Be warned. Spearing the opponent's horse is the most dishonorable deed
a chivalrous knight can commit. Do so, and your honor, along with most
worldly possessions, will be lost.
Event 2: The Moming Star
Again, you control the blue knight, the computer controls the red. The key
is to time your blows pressing the A Button at the exact moment the
morningstar is furthest from the opponent. Push the A Button alone and
you'll swing high. Press it while holding the Control Pad down and you'll
swing low. You can also defend yourself by raising the shield with the B
Button. To be proclaimed champion of the tournament, you must win three
straight Morning Star events.
BUYING AN ARMY (The Pre-Pentagon Era)
Select BUY ARMY from the mainmenu, and the screen automatically swihches to
a choice variety of soldiers, Knights. catapults and castles available for
purchase. You can shop to your heart's content, or at least until you run
out of gold. (Absolubely no deficit spending allowed!) Things to consider
when buying your army: Knights outlast soldiers and are the striking force
on the field of honor, but they are useless when defending your castle or
garrisons. You musthave at least one (1) catapult to lay siege to an enemy
castle. You must also have land (besides your home territory) to build a
castle/garrison. When you build a castle/garrison, you'll also receive 10
men to defend it.
CONQUESTS
The location of your army is represented on the map by the mounted knight.
When at home, the army helps defend the castle. To transfer forces back and
forth between your home castle, your conquesting army, and the garrisons
you've built on captured territories, select CONQUEST from the main menu.
From the next menu that will appear, select TRANSFER. Press the A Button to
lock onto the soldiers Knights or catapults you wish to transfer, then press
the Control Pad left or right. Finally, select MOVE ARMY to capture
unguarded territories, attack enemy locations or to move through friendly
lands.
IT'S A RAID!
Under the cover of darkness you decide to raid an enemy castle (or for that
matter, an allied stronghold). This is purely a greedy decision, a
plundering mission for gold, loot, the big bucks! To illegally raise this
extra cash for your army, select RAIDING from the main menu, then choose the
lord you want to victimize by using your Control Pad to line up the cursor
with his castle.
Fair warning. This isn't as simple as taking candy from a baby. You must
defeat three courtyard soldiers, and then enter into the fortress where
you'll duel with the captain of the guard. It's extremely difficult for a
weak swordfighter to raid the castle of a strong swordsman. But with much
practice, it's possible. Move the Corntrol Pad right and left to advance
and retreat. To escape, move to the far left of the screen . . . at the cost
of leadership points. When you close in on an opponent, press the A Button
to attack. To parry a guard's thrust, press the A Button while holding the
Control Pad in the up position. The guard can't strike you when you're
parrying. Of course, you can't stab him in that position either.
The best strategy for winning your raid is to lunge and strike, then retreat
a step. Another piece of sound advice: watch 16 hours of back-to-back Erroll
Flynn swashbuckling movies - that'll really teach you how to swordfight!
BATTLE TO THE BITTER END
Animated pictures represent the armies. The actual battle randomly takes
place inside the computer. Each soldier represents 25 men (or less) and each
horseman represents 10 knights (or less). Press the Control Pad up or down,
then press the A Button to change tactics. The tactics displayed at bottom
right of the screen are:
* Hold Your Ground - Most effective when you are a good to excellent leader
and you're fighting a weaker or equal leader with less men.
* Ferocious Attack - Risky. if you're a weak leader or are going against a
larger force, it may work. But often it leaves you with casualties galore.
* Bombard - Best used when you have numerous catapults.
* Outflank - Most effective when you have a low leadership rating but
outnumber the opposing army. Might also wark for excellent leader who is
outnumbered.
* Retreat - You may run away and save your men, but that will obviously
destroy your leadership rating.
CATAPULT SIEGES
You must buy a catapult and transfer it to your campaign army before you can
attack a territory occupied by a castle. When the siege begins, choose your
ammunition - BOULDERS, GREEK FIRE, OR DISEASE.
Your objective is to do as much damage as inhumanly possible to the enemy
before the open field battle begins. You must first knock a hole in the wall
with a boulder before you launch fire or disease.
Press the A Button to pull the catapult's lever back. Hold it down until
you're ready to fire then release it.
Try to hit the top of the castle wall first, then lower your aim to destroy
it piece by piece Disease will kill large numbers of men if used eariy
(because it has time to spread and fester). Fire will eliminate 10% of the
castle guards. Select CEASE FIRING if you want to end the siege early.
DEFENDING YOUR HOME CASTLE OR GARRISON
If you haven't stayd a thought ahead of the enemy, and your home castle is
defended by only a handful of wimps, an attack could put a sudden halt to
your dreams of conquest Garrisons can also fall to this land of poor
planning, but without the dramatic ending The crossbow scene is seen from
your perspective inside the castle walls. The enemy is climbing the walls
and firing arrows directly at you (it's kand of a William Tell thing minus
the apple).
The strength bar indieates how many men you have left. Your total number of
crossbowmen corresponds to the number of men in your castle (not including
Knights).
This chart applies to the computer's army as well. Also, the higher your
leadership rating, the more quickly you can move your crossbow. The higher
your opponent's leadership rating, the more quickly his men will appear and
shoot.
.------------------------------------------.
| |
| Men in Castle Total Crossbowmen |
| |
| 1 - 9 1 - 9 |
| 10 - 25 10 |
| 26 - 50 15 |
| 51 - 75 20 |
| 76 - 125 30 |
| 126 - 175 40 |
| 176 - 200 50 |
| |
`-------------------------------------------'
ROBIN HOOD AND THE DAMSEL IN DISTRESS
You can get Robin's help a total of three times. He'll help you raid a
castle, siege a castle, or fight on the battlefield. To ask for his
assistance, move the cursor to Sherwood Forest anytime you are prompted to
select a territory. You'll then see Robin, receive his message, and finally
return to the map where you'll select the territory you wish to harass.
As for the damsel of your dreams, you'll have the opportunity to rescue her
only if her father thinks you have the nerve to succeed. So be brave, my
son, and she'll eventually take the sting from your wounds.
ADVICE FROM THE ROUNDTABLE
1. Familraize yourself wrth your surroundings. Select READ MAP from the menu.
Inspect the territory around your castle, then size up your opponents.
2. Men-at-arms are the least expensive military commodity, and the core of
an army's strength valuable at home for defense or fields of conquest.
Fighting on horseback, knights are useful mainly for attack - they can
splinter a defending army with a terrrfying single charge.
3. Bolster the ranks by shifting men and weapons from your home army, but
remember - the careful commander leaves behind a strong force to protect
his castle unless he plans to stay close by.
4. Issuing the correct orders at the proper time is the key to battlefield
success. Attacking with ferocity is a gamble. It can save a day that
appears lost, but can also be the undoing of a great army that might have
won with a more conservative approach. Know when to give up the field.
Dishonor is preferable to the loss of your last knight.
5. Any castle or territory may be attacked, Norman or Saxon. The reverse is
also true - you may be attacked by Saxons, even though they're supposed
allies. Chivalry was a club, and some lords did not belong.
6. Select CONQUEST from the menu to see the see of your home army and
campaign army. If you have any vassals, their numbers appear in the home
army column. Each vassal is equal to one soldier. Use this menu to assign
additional forces to the campaign.
7. The courtyard of the enemy's castle is a dangerous place to learn the
secrets of swordsmanship. Keep two things in mind and you should live
long enough to reap the benefits of experience: first the best time to
thrust is when your opponent's sword is in motion away from yours;
second, you must always keep moving. So bequeath the ghosts of Camelot.
TREAT YOUR ULTRAGAMES CASETTE CAREFULLY
* This ULTRAGAMES cassette is a precision-crafted device with eomplex
electronic circuitry Avoid subjecting it to undue shock or extremes of
temperature. Never atempt to open or dismantle the cassette.
* Do not touch the terminal leads or allow them to come into eontact with
water or i game circuitry will be damaged.
* Always make sure your computer is SWITCHED OFF when inserting the cassette
or removing it from the computer
* Never insert your fingers or any metal objects into the terminal portion
of the expansion connector This can result in malfunction or damage.
WARNING
DO NOT USE WITH FROMT OR REAR PROJECTIOM TY
Do not use a front or rear projection television with your Nintendo
Entertainment System ("NES") and NES games. Your projection television
screen may be permanently damaged if video games with stationary scenes or
patterns are played on your projection television. Similar damage may occur
if you place a video game on hold or pause. If you use your projection
television with NES games, Nintendo will not be liable for any damage.
This situation is not caused by a defect in the NES or NES games; other
fixed or repetitive images may cause similar damage to a projection
television. Please contact your TV manufacturer forfurther informatlon.
Nintendo and Nintendo Entertainment Systemare trademarks of Nintendo.
PALCOM SOFTWARE is a trademark of Palcom Software Limited.
Defender of the Crown is a trademark of Cinemaware Corp.
(c)1991 Konami